Card Reading Device and Tabletop Game System

ABSTRACT

A card reading device includes a card shoe part in which cards are housed, a card reading part that reads information on the cards drawn out, a control part that determines the outcome of a game based on the read information on the cards, and display parts that display the determined outcome of the game. In a tabletop game system, the information on the cards read by the card reading part and information on the game outcome determined by the control part are transmitted from the card reading device to a main computer apparatus via wireless communication. The card reading device includes a battery that supplies electric power to the control part, the display parts and a wireless output part. The card reading device, as such, is capable of facilitating moving the card reading device in a participatory tabletop game.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/823,036, which in turn is a National Phase application under 35U.S.C. §371 of PCT Application PCT/JP2011/005111, filed Sep. 12, 2011,which claims priority to Japanese Application Serial No. 2010-205280,filed Sep. 14, 2010. Each of these applications is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a card reading device used for aparticipatory tabletop game.

BACKGROUND ART

A tabletop game such as baccarat using playing cards (also referred tosimply as “cards”) has complicated rules that determine the outcome ofthe game. Therefore, when a dealer (a person who deals cards in thetabletop game) judges the outcome of the game, there is a possibility ofthe dealer making an erroneous judgment. Also, in such a tabletop game,a game participant (a person who participates in the tabletop game) mayperform a fraudulent act (e.g., the act of secretly replacing a dealtcard with a different one).

A card reading device has therefore been proposed that is used by beingset on a game table, and that has a function to read a code printed oncards (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). On the surfaces of cards(the front surfaces, on which suits and ranks are printed), a codeinvisible to the human vision in ordinary use but recognizable with apredetermined recognition device is printed. The card reading device hasa function to read this code.

The conventional card reading device has rules for determining theoutcome of a game stored in itself to enable determination of theoutcome of a game. Detection of a judgment error when a dealer makes anerroneous outcome judgment is enabled thereby. In the conventional cardreading device, information on cards (the suits and ranks of the cards)is read when the cards are put out. Therefore, if a game participant orthe like replaces one of the cards, a discrepancy occurs betweeninformation on the card read by the card reading device and informationon the replaced card. Thus, the card reading device is capable of easilydetecting replacement of cards and preventing a fraudulent act performedby a game participant or the like.

A communication cable for connection to an external device (a displaydevice, a computer system, or the like) is connected to such aconventional card reading device to display the outcome of a game on ascreen or the like. A power supply cable is also connected to supplyelectric power to the card reading device.

In a tabletop game such as baccarat, it is a general rule to put outcards from a card shooter device by the hand of a dealer. However, a“participatory” game is conceivable in which, for the purpose of makingthe tabletop game more interesting, a game participant participating inbetting is permitted to put out cards from a card shooter device if theparticipant wishes to do so.

In such a participatory tabletop game (in which a game participant drawscards), there is a need to move a card reading device on the game tablefrom a position in front of a dealer to a position in front of a gameparticipant. In the participatory tabletop game, the operation to movethe card reading device is frequently performed.

However, since the communication cable and the power supply cable areconnected to the conventional card reading device, the communicationcable and the power supply cable are inconvenient when the card readingdevice is moved in a participatory tabletop game. In such a case, it isdifficult to move the card reading device. Thus, the communication cableand the power supply cable conventionally provided are a hindrance tothe realization of a participatory tabletop game. The communicationcable and the power supply cable are also a hindrance to the operationto set the card reading device on the game table and to maintenanceoperations. In some cases, the communication cable or the power supplycable may become a cause of a malfunction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention has been achieved under the above-describedcircumstances. An object of the present invention is to provide a cardreading device capable of facilitating moving the card reading device ina participatory tabletop game.

Solution to Problem

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided acard reading device. This card reading device includes a card shoe parthaving a card container portion that contains a plurality of cards, adetachable cover disposed above the card container portion, and anopening through which the card can be taken out one by one from the cardcontainer portion, a card reading part in which information attached tothe cards drawn out from the card container portion onto a game table isread from each of the cards, a control part that determines the outcomeof a card game based on the information on the cards read in the cardreading part, a display part that outputs the game outcome determined bythe control part, a wireless output part that transmits, to an externaldevice, via wireless communication, the information on the cardssuccessively read in the card reading part and information on the gameoutcome determined by the control part together with an ID foridentification of the card reading device, and a battery that supplieselectric power to the control part, the display part and the wirelessoutput part. The card shoe part, the card reading part, the controlpart, the display part and the wireless output part can be placed on thegame table by being integrally combined with each other, and the batteryis detachably attached to the card reading device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda tabletop game system constituted of a card reading device and a maincomputer apparatus. The card reading device includes a card shoe parthaving a card container portion that contains a plurality of cards, adetachable cover disposed above the card container portion, and anopening through which the card can be taken out one by one from the cardcontainer portion, a card reading part in which information attached tothe cards drawn out from the card container portion onto a game table isread from each of the cards, a control part that determines the outcomeof a card game based on the information on the cards read in the cardreading part, a display part that outputs the game outcome determined bythe control part, a wireless output part that transmits, to the maincomputer apparatus, via wireless communication, the information on thecards successively read in the card reading part and information on thegame outcome determined by the control part together with an ID foridentification of the card reading device, and a battery that supplieselectric power to the control part, the display part and the wirelessoutput part. The card shoe part, the card reading part, the controlpart, the display part and the wireless output part can be placed on thegame table by being integrally combined with each other, and the batteryis detachably attached to the card reading device. The main computerapparatus includes an acceptance determination section that receives theinformation transmitted from the wireless communication part in the cardreading device and accepts the information on the game outcometransmitted from the card reading device if the received ID coincideswith an ID set in advance.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a tabletop game system constituted of a plurality of cards, acard reading device and a main computer apparatus. Each of the pluralityof cards has a code expressing information on the card and attached toone surface of the card in ink reactive to ultraviolet light. The cardreading device includes a card shoe part having a card container portionthat contains a plurality of cards, a detachable cover disposed abovethe card container portion, and an opening through which the card can betaken out one by one from the card container portion, a card readingpart in which information attached to the cards drawn out from the cardcontainer portion onto a game table is read from each of the cards, acontrol part that determines the outcome of a card game based on theinformation on the cards read in the card reading part, a display partthat outputs the game outcome determined by the control part, a wirelesscommunication part that transmits, to the main computer apparatus, viawireless communication, the information on the cards successively readin the card reading part and information on the game outcome determinedby the control part together with an ID for identification of the cardreading device, and a battery that supplies electric power to thecontrol part, the display part and the wireless output part. The cardshoe part, the card reading part, the control part, the display part andthe wireless communication part can be placed on the game table by beingintegrally combined with each other, and the battery is detachablyattached to the card reading device. The main computer apparatusincludes an acceptance determination section that receives theinformation transmitted from the wireless communication part in the cardreading device and accepts the information on the game outcometransmitted from the card reading device if the received ID coincideswith an ID set in advance.

There are other aspects of the present invention, as described below.Accordingly, this disclosure of the invention is intended to proposepart of the aspects of the present invention and is not intended tolimit the scope of the invention described and claimed here.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a tabletop game systemin an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of a card reading device inthe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the construction of a card reading part inthe card reading device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the card reading part in a state where a sensorcover is removed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control part inthe card reading device.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a card to which a code is attached, and

FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a cut card.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described below in detail. The followingdetailed description and the attached drawings are not limiting of thepresent invention.

A card reading device of the present invention is a device including acard shoe part having a card container portion that contains a pluralityof cards, a detachable cover disposed above the card container portion,and an opening through which the card can be taken out one by one fromthe card container portion, a card reading part in which informationattached to the cards drawn out from the card container portion onto agame table is read from each of the cards, a control part thatdetermines the outcome of a card game based on the information on thecards read in the card reading part, a display part that outputs thegame outcome determined by the control part, a wireless output part thattransmits, to an external device, via wireless communication, theinformation on the cards successively read in the card reading part andinformation on the game outcome determined by the control part togetherwith an ID for identification of the card reading device, and a batterythat supplies electric power to the control part, the display part andthe wireless output part, wherein the card shoe part, the card readingpart, the control part, the display part and the wireless output partcan be placed on the game table by being integrally combined with eachother, and the battery is detachably attached to the card readingdevice.

With this arrangement, information on the cards read by the card readingpart and information on the game outcome determined by the control partare transmitted from the wireless output part to the external device (amain computer apparatus or the like) via wireless communication and,therefore, the need for a communication cable such as that in theconventional arrangement is eliminated. The need for a power supplycable such as that in the conventional arrangement is also eliminatedsince electric power is supplied from the battery to the control part,the display part and the wireless output part. Thus, according to thepresent invention, the need for a communication cable and a power supplycable such as those in the conventional arrangement can be eliminated.As a result, the operation to move the card reading device from aposition in front of a dealer to a position in front of a gameparticipant in a so-called participatory tabletop game is facilitated.Moreover, the operation to place the card reading device on the gametable and maintenance operations are facilitated. Further, prevention ofthe occurrence of malfunctions due to the conventional communicationcable and power supply cable is enabled.

The card reading device of the present invention may further include atransmission setting section that determines timing of transmission inthe wireless output part.

Transmission of the information on the cards and the information on thegame outcome at a suitable timing is enabled thereby.

In the card reading device of the present invention, the transmissionsetting section may determine timing of the transmission so that after apredetermined number of the cards is read in the card reading part, theinformation on the cards read from the cards is transmitted.

Transmission of the information on a predetermined number of cards andthe information on the game outcome at a suitable timing after read ofthe predetermined number of cards in the card reading part is enabledthereby.

In the card reading device of the present invention, the transmissionsetting section may determine timing of the transmission by apredetermined program.

Transmission of the information on the cards and the information on thegame outcome at a suitable timing determined by the program is enabledthereby.

In the card reading device of the present invention, the battery may beattached to the cover.

Since the battery is attached to the cover, the cover with the batterycan be replaced with another cover to which a charged battery isattached when the cover is removed for the purpose of replacing thecards in the card container portion with a plurality of new decks ofcards after the completion of a round of game play. This enablesprevention of the occurrence of the worst state in which the remainingcharges in the battery is so reduced in the course of a round of gameplay (before the appearance of a cut card) that the game isdiscontinued.

The card reading device of the present invention may further include anauxiliary battery that supplies electric power to the control part andthe wireless output part when the battery is removed from the cardreading device or when the amount of charge in the battery becomes equalto or smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

This arrangement enables supply of electric power from the auxiliarybattery instead of from the above-described battery when the battery isremoved or the amount of remaining charge in the battery is small.

The card reading device of the present invention may further include abattery switching part that performs control so that electric power tothe control part and the wireless output part is supplied from one ofthe battery and the auxiliary battery or from both the two batteries.

Appropriate supply of electric power from one of the battery and theauxiliary battery or from both the two batteries is enabled thereby.

The card reading device of the present invention may further include adetection notification section that detects opening of the cover andtransmits a notice of the occurrence of opening of the cover to theexternal device through the wireless output part.

Appropriately detecting opening of the cover is enabled thereby.

A tabletop game system of the present invention is a system constitutedof a card reading device and a main computer apparatus, the card readingdevice including a card shoe part having a card container portion thatcontains a plurality of cards, a detachable cover disposed above thecard container portion, and an opening through which the card can betaken out one by one from the card container portion, a card readingpart in which information attached to the cards drawn out from the cardcontainer portion onto a game table is read from each of the cards, acontrol part that determines the outcome of a card game based on theinformation on the cards read in the card reading part, a display partthat outputs the game outcome determined by the control part, a wirelessoutput part that transmits, to the main computer apparatus, via wirelesscommunication, the information on the cards successively read in thecard reading part and information on the game outcome determined by thecontrol part together with an ID for identification of the card readingdevice, and a battery that supplies electric power to the control part,the display part and the wireless output part, wherein the card shoepart, the card reading part, the control part, the display part and thewireless output part can be placed on the game table by being integrallycombined with each other, the battery is detachably attached to the cardreading device, and the main computer apparatus includes an acceptancedetermination section that receives the information transmitted from thewireless communication part in the card reading device and accepts theinformation on the game outcome transmitted from the card reading deviceif the received ID coincides with an ID set in advance.

This tabletop game system also enables elimination of a communicationcable and a power supply cable such as those in the conventionalarrangement. As a result, the operation to move the card reading devicefrom a position in front of a dealer to a position in front of a gameparticipant in a so-called participatory tabletop game is facilitated.Moreover, the operation to place the card reading device on the gametable and maintenance operations are facilitated. Further, prevention ofthe occurrence of malfunctions due to the conventional communicationcable and power supply cable is enabled.

The tabletop game system of the present invention may include aplurality of card reading devices, and one common computer apparatus asthe main computer apparatus with respect to the plurality of cardreading devices. The plurality of card reading devices each may have IDsdifferent from each other, each ID for identification of thecorresponding card reading device. The main computer apparatus mayinclude an identification section that identifies the IDs of theplurality of card reading devices different from each other.

Appropriate management of the plurality of card reading devices by onemain computer apparatus is enabled thereby.

Another tabletop game system of the present invention is a systemconstituted of a plurality of cards, a card reading device and a maincomputer apparatus, each of the plurality of cards having a codeexpressing information on the card, the code being attached to onesurface of the card in ink reactive to ultraviolet light, the cardreading device including a card shoe part having a card containerportion that contains the plurality of cards, a detachable coverdisposed above the card container portion, and an opening through whichthe card can be taken out one by one from the card container portion, acard reading part in which information attached to the cards drawn outfrom the card container portion onto a game table is read from each ofthe cards, a control part that determines the outcome of a card gamebased on the information on the cards read in the card reading part, adisplay part that outputs the game outcome determined by the controlpart, a wireless communication part that transmits, to the main computerapparatus, via wireless communication, the information on the cardssuccessively read in the card reading part and information on the gameoutcome determined by the control part together with an ID foridentification of the card reading device, and a battery that supplieselectric power to the control part, the display part and the wirelessoutput part, wherein the card shoe part, the card reading part, thecontrol part, the display part and the wireless communication part canbe placed on the game table by being integrally combined with eachother, the battery is detachably attached to the card reading device,and the main computer apparatus includes an acceptance determinationsection that receives the information transmitted from the wirelesscommunication part in the card reading device and accepts theinformation on the game outcome transmitted from the card reading deviceif the received ID coincides with an ID set in advance.

This tabletop game system also enables elimination of a communicationcable and a power supply cable such as those in the conventionalarrangement. As a result, the operation to move the card reading devicefrom a position in front of a dealer to a position in front of a gameparticipant in a so-called participatory tabletop game is facilitated.Moreover, the operation to place the card reading device on the gametable and maintenance operations are facilitated. Further, prevention ofthe occurrence of malfunctions due to the conventional communicationcable and power supply cable is enabled.

In the tabletop game system of the present invention, the codeexpressing the information on each of the cards may be printed at twoopposite sides of the card along a direction in which the card is drawnout.

Appropriate read of the code printed on each card is enabled thereby.

According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate movingthe card reading device in a participatory tabletop game.

Embodiment

A card reading device in a tabletop game system according to anembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference tothe drawings. The present embodiment will be described by way of examplewith respect to the case of a card reading device in a tabletop gamesystem used for a participatory baccarat game or the like performed in acasino or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a tabletop game systemaccording to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a tabletop gamesystem 1 is constituted of a plurality of card reading devices 2 and onemain computer apparatus 3. Each of the card reading devices 2 is placedon each game table T and used for a tabletop game performed on the tableT. The main computer apparatus 3 is placed in a game monitoring pit or acentral monitoring room (not shown).

The configuration of the main computer apparatus 3 will first bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the maincomputer apparatus 3 includes a wireless communication interface 4 forperforming wireless communication with each of the plurality of cardreading devices 2, and an identification section 5 that identifies IDsfor the plurality of card reading devices 2 (IDs different from eachother). The main computer apparatus 3 also includes an acceptancedetermination section 6 that accepts information on a game outcome(described below) from one of the card reading device 2 if an IDreceived from the card reading device 2 coincides with an ID set inadvance.

The construction of each card reading device 2 will next be described.FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the construction of the card reading device2. As shown in FIG. 2, the card reading device 2 has a housing 7. Thehousing 7 includes a card shoe part 8 and a card reading part 9. Asshown in FIG. 1, the card reading device 2 also includes a control part10, a first display part 11 and a second display part 12. The cardreading device 2 further includes a wireless output part 13 and atransmission permission button 14. The first display part 11 is, forexample, a monitor, and the second display part 12 is, for example,three lamps (win, loss and draw lamps). The wireless output part 13 has,for example, a function to perform wireless communication based onBluetooth® or the like.

It can be said that the card reading device 2 is formed by integrallycombining the card shoe part 8, the card reading part 9, the controlpart 10, the first display part 11 and the second display part 12, andthat these parts can be placed on the game table by being integrallycombined with each other. The card reading device 2 is black in colorand made of a resin as a whole.

The card reading device 2 also includes a battery 15 and an auxiliarybattery 16 for supplying electric power to its parts (control part 10,first display part 11, second display part 12, and wireless output part13). The card reading device 2 further includes a battery switchingcircuit 17 for selecting between supply of electric power from one ofthe battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16 to the parts and supply ofelectric power from both the battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16 tothe parts.

The construction of each part in the card reading device 2 will bedescribed in detail. The construction of the card shoe part 8 will firstbe described by referring to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the card shoepart 8 includes a card container portion 18 containing a plurality ofcards C, and an opening 19 through which the cards C can be taken out bybeing slid from the card container portion 18. A floor 20 and a frontwall 21 of a card accommodation portion are slanted, as shown in FIG. 2.In the card accommodation portion, a batch of cards C are pressedforward by a card pressing member 22 with a roller to be pressed againstthe front wall 21. The front wall 21 has the U-shaped opening 19 in at alower position. A dealer takes out the cards C from the opening 19 ontothe game table T through the card reading part by sliding the cards C.The front wall 21 may be covered with a piece of black cloth, which isnot illustrated, in order that the cards C cannot be seen through theopening 19.

A detachable cover 23 is attached above the card container portion. Thebattery 15 is mounted at the back of the cover 23. The battery 15 can beattached or detached together with the cover 23. A terminal 25 to whichthe battery 15 is connected is provided in a receiving portion 24 forreceiving the cover 23. The terminal 25 is connected to the control part10 to supply electric power from the battery 15 to the componentsincluding the first display part 11, the second display part 12 and thewireless output part 13 through the control part 10. At the time ofinterchange of the battery 15, or attachment or detachment of the cover23, electric power is supplied from the auxiliary battery 16.

At the time of attachment or detachment of the cover 23, electric poweris supplied from the auxiliary battery 16 since the battery 15 attachedto the cover 23 is also detached. The battery 15 attached to the cover23 is charged by a charger (not shown). The cover 23 to which a chargedspare battery 15 is attached is prepared to enable a tabletop game to besmoothly conducted.

The construction of the card reading part 9 will be described by alsoreferring to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the cardreading part. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the card reading part 9 includesa card reading sensor part 26 that reads information on the cards (suitsand ranks) from the cards C while the cards C taken out one afteranother from the opening 19 are guided and taken out onto the game tableT. The card reading part 9 is provided below the opening 19 of the cardshoe part 8 and incorporated in the housing 7 integrally with the cardshoe part 8.

The card reading part 9 has a card guide surface 27, which is a slantingsurface. The card guide surface 27 continues to the opening 19. The cardguide surface 27 extends forward and downward from the opening 19 andits lower end continues to the game table T. The card guide surface 27serves as a measurement surface for card reading.

Card guide rails 28 are mounted on opposite side portions of the cardguide surface 27. A card path gap, not illustrated in the figure, isformed between the card guide rail 28 and the card guide surface 27. Thesize of the card path gap is set to a value slightly larger than thethickness of the cards C. Each card C passes over the card guide surface27 after being drawn out from the card shoe part 8. At this time,opposite end portions of the card C pass through the card path gap.

A sensor cover 29 is mounted on each of the two card guide rails 28 witha screw, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the sensor covers 29 areremoved, four sensors in the card reading sensor part 26 are exposed.The four sensors are two black-light sensors 30 (also referred to as “UVsensor”), an object detection sensor 31 and a measurement effectivenessdetermination sensor 32. These four sensors are provided in the cardguide surface 27.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the UV sensors 30 are positioned on the cardguide surface 27 comparatively close to the upstream end of the cardguide surface 27 in the card C flow direction. Te UV sensors 30 are alsodisposed in a space in the housing 7, fixed to a ceiling surface (asurface at the back of the card guide surface 27) and exposed throughthe card guide surface 27.

Each UV sensor 30 includes an LED (ultraviolet LED) that emitsultraviolet light and a detector. Each card C is irradiated withultraviolet light (black light) and a code on the card is detected withthe detector. A code for the ranks (A, 1 to 10, J, Q, and K) of thecards C is printed on the cards C in ultraviolet emission ink capable ofdeveloping a color when irradiated with ultraviolet light, as describedlater. The UV sensors 30 are connected to the control part 10. In thecontrol part 10, the numbers on the cards C are determined from signalsoutput from the detectors in the UV sensors 30

The configuration of the control part 10 will be described withreference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configurationof the control part 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the control part 10 includesa counter 33, a memory 34, a number identification section 35 and anormal passage determination section 36. The counter 33 counts thenumber of cards C dealt onto the game table T. The control part 10 alsoincludes an outcome determination section 37 that determines the outcomeof a card game based on information on the cards from the card readingpart 9, a display control section 38 that controls display on the firstdisplay part 11 and the second display part 12, a communication controlsection 39 that controls the wireless output part 13, and a transmissionsetting section 40 that determines timing of transmission in thewireless output part 13. In the memory 34, read data read from the cardsC with the card reading sensor part 26 and processed by the control part10 and the result of determination of the outcome of a game describedbelow are temporarily stored.

The control part 10 also includes a detection notification section 41that detects opening of the cover 23 when the cover 23 is opened,transmits a notice of this to an external device (main computerapparatus 3 or the like) through the wireless output part 13, and apower supply control section 42 that controls switching between thebattery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16. The power supply controlsection 42 performs control so that electric power is supplied from theauxiliary battery 16 instead of from the battery 15, for example, whenthe battery 15 is removed or when the remaining amount of charge in thebattery 15 is small. The power supply control section 42 also enablesefficient use of the two batteries by performing control through thebattery switching circuit 17 so that the battery 15 and the auxiliarybattery 16 are selectively connected in series or in parallel with eachother. Further, the power supply control section 42 functions to chargethe auxiliary battery 16 from the battery 15 when the battery 15 isreplaced with a charged high-capacity battery 15. The card readingdevice 2 in the present embodiment is provided with a remaining chargeindication lamp 43 for indicating the remaining amount of charge in thebattery 15 and a remaining charge indication lamp 44 for indicating theremaining amount of charge in the auxiliary battery 16. The power supplycontrol section 42 and the battery switching circuit 17 correspond tothe battery switching section of the present invention.

The control part 10 is a computer and connected to the UV sensors 30,the object detection sensor 31 and the measurement effectivenessdetermination sensor 32. The control part 10 is also connected to themonitor provided as first display part 11 and the three lamps providedas second display part 12 to control display on the monitor and thelamps.

The computer provided as control part 10 has a processing function(outcome determination section 37) to automatically determine theoutcome of a game. This function is realized by incorporating an outcomedetermination program in the computer. This program is executed by aprocessor in the computer.

In determination processing, the computer obtains, by using the UVsensors 30, the ranks of the cards successively taken out from the cardshoe part 8 onto the game table T. The obtained ranks of the cards aresuccessively stored in the memory 34. Information about to which playersthe cards C have been dealt is simultaneously stored. That is, the ranksof the cards are stored by being associated with the players to whom thecards are dealt.

The card shooter device in the present embodiment is used for a baccaratgame, in which two persons: a player and a banker exist (these twopersons are referred to as players in this specification). To whichplayer the next card C is dealt is uniquely determined from the numberof cards C dealt before and the ranks of the cards. By referring to theranks of the cards stored in the memory 34, the computer provided ascontrol part 10 determines to which player each card C read with the UVsensors 30 is dealt. The ranks of the dealt cards are stored in thememory 34 by being associated with the players.

The computer reads out from the memory 34 the ranks (numbers) of thecards dealt to the two players and compares the hands of the two playersbased on the rules of the baccarat game by a program stored in advance,thereby determining the outcome. The numbers on the cards are totalized;the totalized numbers are compared; and determination is made as towhich player wins and whether or not the outcome is a draw.

Thus, in the case of baccarat, the outcome can be automaticallydetermined only from the ranks (numbers) of the cards successively takenout of the card shooter device. Detection of to which player each card Chas been dealt may not be performed by using other sensors (e.g.,sensors separately embedded in the table T). The result of thisdetermination is stored in the memory 34.

The control part 10 outputs the game outcome to the first display part11 and the second display part 12. The read numbers, the game outcomeand other sorts of information are displayed on the first display part11. One of the banker win lamp, the draw lamp and the player win lamp islit on the second display part 12 according to the game outcome.

The card reading device 2 transmits to the external device (maincomputer apparatus 3 or the like) the information (read data) on thecards read from the cards C with the card reading sensor part 26 and thegame outcome determined by the control part 10 together with the ID foridentification of itself. The transmission setting section 40 in thecontrol part 10 has a function to determine timing of this transmission.The transmission is temporarily stored in the memory 34 in the controlpart 10 without being performed immediately after the completion of thecard read processing operation and the results of determination of thegame outcome. When the transmission permission button 14 is pressed bythe dealer (operator), the read data and the game outcome temporarilystored in the memory 34 are transmitted from the wireless output part 13to the external device (main computer apparatus 3 or the like) under thecontrol of the communication control section 39.

The arrangement may alternatively be such that transmission to theexternal device (main computer apparatus 3) is automatically performedby the program in the transmission setting section 40 without theoperation of the transmission permission button 14 when, after thecompletion of dealing of two cards C to each of the banker and theplayer (a total of four cards), the fifth card C is drawn, ortransmission to the external device (main computer apparatus 3) isautomatically performed by the program in the transmission settingsection 40 at the stage where the result of outcome determination isobtained.

The transmission setting section 40 may have a function to transmitinformation on a predetermined number of cards (e.g., the number ofcards corresponding to one game) read by the card reading part 9 afterreading of these cards. Also in such a case, the transmission settingsection 40 may determine by the predetermined program timing oftransmission of the information on the cards successively read by thecard reading part 9 and the game outcome determined by the control part10.

Determination of the ranks of the cards will be described with referenceto FIGS. 6A and 6B. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, acode X expressing information on each card is point-symmetricallyprinted on the card C at two opposite end sides of the same along adirection in which the card is drawn out. As a code for identifying therank of the card, a plurality of rectangular marks, for example, arearranged along the edges of the card C. The marks constitute the codefor the rank of the card, and the code expresses the rank of the card.When one of the UV sensors 30 detects one of the marks, it outputs an ONsignal. Accordingly, the UV sensors 30 at the two edges output ONsignals from the marks with respect to the rank. The control part 10counts the ON signals input from the two UV sensors 30 The code formedof the two marks detected with the two UV sensors 30 are thereby read.The control part 10 identifies the rank of the card based on the codeformed of the marks.

One-to-one correspondence between the mark code and the rank of the cardmay suffice. In the control part 10, the numbers on the cards may bedetermined by comparing the detected mark codes with the codes formed ofthe marks registered in advance.

In the baccarat game, “J”, “Q” and “K” are treated as equivalent to “10”(treated as in the baccarat game). Then, the same code for “10” may beattached to “J”, “Q” and “K”. A code expressing suits (spades, hearts,diamonds and clubs) may be attached to the cards C in addition to thatfor the card ranks and may be read. Thus, if the ranks of the cardsnecessary for a game can be expressed by a code within the scope of thepresent invention, the form of the code is not restrictively specified.

In the present embodiment, the card reading device 2 includes the UVsensors 30 that detect marks from cards C and output signals. Each UVsensor 30 outputs the ON signal during passage of the mark. A codeformed of a predetermined number of marks is provided on each card C.The marks are provided in side portions and are therefore arranged alongthe card drawing out direction so as to pass by the UV sensors 30. Themark code is associated with the numbers on the cards. The control part10 identifies each card C from the detection signals from the UV sensors30.

The card reading device 2 in the present embodiment is provided with thetwo UV sensors 30. Accordingly, marks are arranged along the two edgesof the ordinary cards C (i.e., cards “A”, “2”, . . . “K”) incorrespondence with the UV sensors 30 on the opposite sides, as shown inFIG. 6A. These marks are read with the UV sensors 30 on the oppositesides. The marks are favorably provided in areas where no illustrationor pattern exists. However, the actual marks are normally invisible.

In the present embodiment, a predetermined number of marks are favorablyarranged along each edge of each card C. The marks may be arranged inone row, two row or three or more rows. In a case where two rows ofmarks favorably provided along each of the two edges of each card C, thenumber of UV sensors 30 and the disposition of the UV sensors aresuitably adjusted according to the rows of marks. Two arrays of marksidentical to each other and each consisting of two or three rows ofmarks may be provided point-symmetrically about a center of each card Cto enable removal of one of the UV sensors provided in the opposite sideportions of the card guide surface 27.

A cut card CC will be described with reference to FIG. 6B. The cut cardCC is a card used in a casino or the like. A plurality of decks (e.g.,four decks, six decks or eight decks) of cards C are ordinarily housedin a random array (in a shuffled state) in the card container portion18. The cut card CC is inserted in this batch of cards C. The cut cardCC indicates the time to end use of each of the plurality of decks(e.g., four decks, six decks or eight decks) on the table. When the cutcard indicating the time to end a round of game play appears, thesubsequent cards are not used for the game.

When the cut card CC appears, a need arises to replace the cards C inthe card container portion 18 with a new batch of cards in the pluralityof decks. Accordingly, it is necessary to report the appearance of thecut card (hereinafter referred to as “cut card appearance information”)to the game monitoring pit or central monitoring room. Therefore, a codeindicating that the card is the cut card CC is printed in the form of amark (five marks in FIG. 6B) on opposite side portions of the cut cardCC to enable read of the cut card CC in the card reading part 9. Thenumber of marks and the positions of the marks can be changed as desiredas long as the cut card CC is made discriminable from the other cards.

After read of the cut card CC in the card reading part 9 is performed,the communication control section 39 obtains cut card appearanceinformation from the card reading part 9. The communication controlsection 39 is programmed so as to be able to transmit cut cardappearance information after obtaining the cut card appearanceinformation.

In the present embodiment, the cut card appearance information istemporarily stored in the memory 34 provided as temporary storage means,as are the information on the other ordinary cards C and the results ofdetermination of the outcomes of games. When transmission is permittedby depressing the transmission permission button 14, the cut cardappearance information temporarily stored in the memory 34 istransmitted to the main computer apparatus 3. Unlike read information onthe ordinary cards C and the results of determination of the outcomes ofgames, the cut card appearance information may be set by a program orthe like in the transmission setting section 40 of the control part 10so that it is transmitted when necessary in relation to prevention of afraudulent act without being temporarily stored in the memory 34 andwithout waiting for the operation of the transmission permission button14.

The card reading device 2 in the present embodiment described aboveenables elimination of a communication cable and a power supply cablesuch as those in the conventional arrangement. Moving the card readingdevice 2 in a so-called participatory tabletop game is facilitatedthereby.

That is, in the present embodiment, information on cards read by thecard reading part 9 and information on a game outcome determined by thecontrol part 10 are transmitted from the wireless output part 13 to anexternal device (main computer apparatus 3 or the like) via wirelesscommunication and, therefore, the need for a communication cable such asthat in the conventional arrangement is eliminated. The need for a powersupply cable such as that in the conventional arrangement is alsoeliminated since electric power is supplied from the battery 15 to thecontrol part 10, the first display part 11, the second display part 12and the wireless output part 13. Thus, according to the presentinvention, the need for a communication cable and a power supply cablesuch as those in the conventional arrangement can be eliminated. As aresult, the operation to move the card reading device 2 from a positionin front of a dealer to a position in front of a game participant in aso-called participatory tabletop game is facilitated. Moreover, theoperation to place the card reading device 2 on the game table andmaintenance operations are facilitated. Further, prevention of theoccurrence of malfunctions due to the conventional communication cableand power supply cable is enabled.

The card reading device 2 in the present embodiment includes thetransmission setting section 40 that determines timing of transmissionin the wireless output part 13 and, therefore, enables transmission ofinformation on cards and information on a game outcome at a suitabletiming. For example, after read of a predetermined number of cards bythe card reading part 9, information on the cards and information on agame outcome can be transmitted at a suitable timing. Alternatively,information on cards and information on a game outcome can betransmitted at a suitable timing determined by a program.

The card reading device 2 in the present embodiment has the battery 15attached to the cover 23. Therefore, the cover 23 with the battery 15can be replaced with another cover 23 to which a charged battery 15 isattached when the cover 23 is removed for the purpose of replacing thecards C in the card container portion with a plurality of new decks ofcards after the completion of a round of game play. Prevention offailure to charge the battery 15 or failure to replace the battery 15with a charged battery 15 can be achieved in this way. In such a case,it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the worst state in which theremaining charges in the battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16 are soreduced in the course of a round of game play (before the appearance ofa cut card) that the game is discontinued.

In the present embodiment, opening of the cover 23 can be appropriatelydetected with the detection notification section 41 in the card readingdevice 2. It is important to appropriately detect opening of the cover23 in preventing unauthorized access to the cards C in the cardcontainer portion. The control part 10 makes such a setting that whenopening of the cover 23 is detected as described above, thecommunication control section 39 makes the wireless output part 13transmit a notice of this. The communication control section 39 also hasa function to transmit the amount of charge in the battery 15 or theauxiliary battery 16 and a function to transmit information on a statewhere each of the amounts of charge in the batteries is equal to orsmaller than a predetermined value.

Since the card reading device 2 in the present embodiment has theauxiliary battery 16, it can be supplied with electric power from theauxiliary battery 16 instead of from the battery 15 when the battery 15is removed or the amount of remaining charge in the battery 15 is small.Also, since the card reading device 2 in the present embodiment has thebattery switching circuit 17, it can be appropriately supplied withelectric power from one of the battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16or from both the battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16.

In the tabletop game system 1 in the present embodiment, a plurality ofcard reading devices 2 can be suitably managed by one main computerapparatus 3. In the present embodiment, a code expressing information oneach card is printed at the opposed two sides of the card along adirection in which the card is drawn out. Therefore, the code printed onthe card can be appropriately read.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described by way ofexample. The scope of the present invention is not limited to thedescribed embodiment. Changes and modifications can be made in theembodiment according to purposes within the scope described in theclaims.

While the embodiment of the present invention presently consideredpreferable has been described, it is to be understood that variouschanges can be made in the present embodiment, and the appended claimsare intended to include all such changes within the scope of the truespirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the card reading device according to the presentinvention has the effect of facilitating moving the card reading devicein a participatory tabletop game, is used in a tabletop game system usedfor a participatory tabletop game or the like performed in a casino orthe like, and useful.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 Tabletop game system-   2 Card reading device-   3 Main computer apparatus-   4 Wireless communication interface-   5 Identification section-   6 Acceptance determination section-   7 Housing-   8 Card shoe part-   9 Card reading part-   10 Control part-   11 First display part-   12 Second display part-   13 Wireless output part-   14 Transmission permission button-   15 Battery-   16 Auxiliary battery-   17 Battery switching circuit-   18 Card container portion-   19 Opening-   20 Floor-   21 Front wall-   22 Card pressing member-   23 Cover-   24 Receiving portion-   25 Terminal-   26 Card reading sensor part-   27 Card guide surface-   28 Card guide rail-   29 Sensor cover-   30 Black-light sensor (UV sensor)-   31 Object detection sensor-   32 Measurement effectiveness determination sensor-   33 Counter-   34 Memory-   35 Number identification section-   36 Normal passage determination section-   37 Outcome determination section-   38 Display control section-   39 Communication control section-   40 Transmission setting section-   41 Detection notification section-   42 Power supply control section

1. A tabletop game system comprising a card reading device, a wirelessoutput part, and a main computer apparatus, wherein the card readingdevice comprises a card shoe part having a card container portion thatcontains a plurality of cards, and an opening through which the cardscan be taken out one by one from the card container portion, a cardreading part in which information on the cards, which is attached to thecards drawn out from the card container portion onto a game table, isread from each of the cards, a control part that determines an outcomeof a card game based on the information on the cards read in the cardreading part, a display part that outputs the game outcome determined bythe control part, and a battery that supplies electric power to thecontrol part and the display part, wherein the wireless output part hasa function of transmitting the information on the cards at leastsuccessively read in the card reading part or information on the gameoutcome determined by the control part, together with an ID on thetransmission side, to the main computer apparatus via wirelesscommunication, and wherein the main computer apparatus comprises anacceptance determination section that receives the informationtransmitted from the wireless output part, and accepts the informationon the game outcome transmitted from the card reading device when thereceived ID coincides with an ID previously set.
 2. The tabletop gamesystem according to claim 1, comprising an auxiliary battery thatsupplies electric power to the control part and the wireless output partwhen the battery is removed from the card reading device or when theamount of charge in the battery becomes equal to or smaller than apredetermined threshold value.
 3. The tabletop game system according toclaim 1, comprising a plurality of the card reading devices and the onemain computer apparatus common among the plurality of card readingdevices, wherein the plurality of card reading devices each have IDs,different from one another, for identification of the corresponding cardreading device, and wherein the main computer apparatus comprises anidentification section that identifies the IDs, different from oneanother, of the plurality of card reading devices.
 4. The tabletop gamesystem according to claim 3, wherein the card reading device furthercomprises a transmission setting section that determines transmissiontiming in the wireless communication part.
 5. The tabletop game systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the transmission setting sectiondetermines the transmission timing so that after the predeterminednumber of cards are read in the card reading part, the information onthe cards, which is read from the cards, is transmitted.
 6. The tabletopgame system according to claim 5, wherein the transmission settingsection determines the transmission timing with a predetermined program.7. The tabletop game system according to claim 2, wherein the cardreading device further comprises a battery switching part that performscontrol so that the electric power to the control part and the wirelessoutput part is supplied from one or both of the battery and theauxiliary battery.
 8. A tabletop game system comprising a plurality ofcards, a card reading device, and a wireless output part, and a maincomputer apparatus, wherein the plurality of cards each have codesrepresenting information on the cards attached thereto, wherein the cardreading device comprises a card shoe part having a card containerportion that contains the plurality of cards, and an opening throughwhich the cards can be taken out one by one from the card containerportion, a card reading part in which information on the cards, which isattached to the cards drawn out from the card container portion onto agame table, is read from each of the cards, a control part thatdetermines an outcome of a card game based on the information on thecards read in the card reading part, a display part that outputs thegame outcome determined by the control part, and a battery that supplieselectric power to the control part and the display part, wherein thewireless output part has a function of transmitting the information onthe cards at least successively read in the card reading part orinformation on the game outcome determined by the control part, togetherwith an ID on the transmission side, to the main computer apparatus viawireless communication, and wherein the main computer apparatuscomprises an acceptance determination section that receives theinformation transmitted from the wireless output part, and accepts theinformation on the game outcome transmitted from the card reading devicewhen the received ID coincides with an ID previously set.
 9. Thetabletop game system according to claim 8, wherein the card readingdevice comprises an auxiliary battery that supplies electric power tothe control part and the wireless communication part when the battery isremoved from the card reading device or when the amount of charge in thebattery becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined thresholdvalue.
 10. The tabletop game system according to claim 8, wherein thecode representing the information on each of the cards is printed on twoopposite sides of the card along a direction in which the card is drawnout.
 11. The tabletop game system according to claim 8, comprising aplurality of the card reading devices and the one main computerapparatus common among the plurality of card reading devices, whereinthe plurality of card reading devices each have IDs, different from oneanother, for identification of the corresponding card reading device,and wherein the main computer apparatus includes an identificationsection that identifies the IDs, different from one another, of theplurality of card reading devices.
 12. The tabletop game systemaccording to claim 8, wherein the card reading device further comprisesa transmission setting section that determines transmission timing inthe wireless communication part.
 13. The tabletop game system accordingto claim 12, wherein the transmission setting section determines thetransmission timing so that after the predetermined number of cards areread in the card reading part, the information on the cards, which isread from the cards, is transmitted.
 14. The tabletop game systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the transmission setting sectiondetermines the transmission timing with a predetermined program.
 15. Thetabletop game system according to claim 9, wherein the card readingdevice further comprises a battery switching part that performs controlso that the electric power to the control part and the wireless outputpart is supplied from one or both of the battery and the auxiliarybattery.